GOING TO THE RIVERwas founded by the late Curt Dempster and Elizabeth Van Dyke in 1999 at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, for the purpose of developing, producing and providing a New York City 'home base' for a community of female playwrights of color.

​​GTTR consists of a River Writers Unit at The Lark, an annual Reading Series of New Work, a Festival of Short Plays, a festival of solo pieces known as Going to the River All By Yo'Self, Workshops, special events that include panels, classes, and conversations with Distinguished Guests at various venues in New York City.